Mega-Catch™ Promoting National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) has declared June 20-26 this year’s ‘National Mosquito Control Awareness Week’. Founded in 1935, the AMCA is a scientific/educational, not-for-profit public service association dedicated to preserving the public’s health and well-being through safe, environmentally sound mosquito control programs.

While not every kind of mosquito carries every kind of disease, a single bite from the right mosquito at the right time, and you’re infected. At Mega-Catch™ we actively promote prevention as the best protection. And in addition to giving tips and advice on source reduction; how to easily identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites, we also encourage homeowners to use mosquito nets, screens, and insect repellents as well as mosquito traps. While traps won’t permanently eliminate mosquitoes in the area, most experts agree on their use in conjunction with other traditional precautions, as a way to reduce nuisance mosquitoes and biting incidences.

The 3 D’s of Mosquito ControlMany mosquito problems in your neighborhood are likely to come from water-filled containers that you can help to eliminate. The AMCA recommends following the three ‘Ds’ of mosquito control:

DRAIN – dump, clean or cover all containers around your home and work places.
ALL mosquitoes require water in which to breed. Even the smallest of containers that can collect water can breed hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes. They don’t need much water to lay their eggs (bottles, barrels, buckets, overturned garbage can lids, etc.)

DRESS – Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. Some mosquito species are attracted to dark clothing and some can bite through tight-fitting clothes. When practical, wear long sleeves and pants.

DEFEND – Choose a mosquito repellent that has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Registered products have been reviewed, approved, and pose minimal risk for human safety when used according to label directions. Three repellents that are approved and recommended are:

For more than 30 years scientists have been searching for compounds that attract mosquitoes. About 300 different chemicals are emitted by human skin, and figuring out which ones mosquitoes are most drawn to is painstaking work. However, U.S.D.A. research entomologist Dr Daniel Kline narrowed down the long list when he decided to use dirty socks as bait. The result: his 3-day-old socks were irresistible to them. They also love Limburger Cheese and the main ingredient in the cheese is a bacterium that’s found on the human foot. Dr Kline also studies bird, cow and flower odors that draw mosquitoes; carefully blending them like perfume to figure out what works best as bait.

If you have your own special mosquito attractant recipe or brew that you’ve used with success to attract mosquitoes, then send in the details to info@megacatch.com.

We’ll put you in the draw to win a season’s supply of accessories including our ‘must have’ Mega-Catch™ 3000 combination lure. Described as aromatherapy for mosquitoes, the breakthrough aromatic mosquito attractant incorporates synthetic Octenol, lactic acid and other ingredients specially formulated, then blended to attract the Asian tiger (Aedes albopictus) and other nuisance mosquitoes as well as sand flies, black flies and biting midges.

“We feel that you can use attractants in a trapping strategy to divert them from biting people. If you can keep them from biting people you can stop the disease transmission.” says Dr Kline (Seed Magazine, June 15, 2009)